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For a long time, there was just “a Brompton.” More likely, it was “the Brompton.” A name so ubiquitous as a folding bike that you called your bike a Brompton and many folks in the cycling world would know exactly what it was.
Today? There aren’t just four distinct levels of Brompton to choose from, but there are even electric versions of some of the bikes. Not only is there the standard C Line, but a high-zoot, titanium T Line. In the middle is this bike, the Brompton P Line.
This P Line is a bit unique, however, as it has their new Explore gearing. As a result, riders get what they’re calling a 12-speed drivetrain, by far the widest-range gearing that Brompton has offered on one of their bikes.
How does it work? We took it traveling and on rides across the city to find out. Can you ride (162 km) aboard a Brompton? Stay tuned for that one.
Quick Hits: Five things to know about the Brompton P Line Explore
- Each Made-in-England Brompton P Line folds into a package as small as a carry-on.
- The P Line Explore folding bikes features a unique 12-speed drivetrain, replacing its six-speed drivetrain.
- The P Line frame is a claimed 700 grams lighter than an all-steel Brompton equivalent.
- Like other Bromptons, the P Line is built around 16-inch wheels.
- The Brompton P Line Explore comes in one size with three bar height options.
Build specs
Some might say that if you’ve seen one Brompton, you’ve seen them all. They’re not entirely wrong; its iconic shape hasn’t changed all that much, regardless of frame material. There’s a single folding tube that connects two 16-inch wheels. On each side are two long tubes perpendicular to the frame: one telescoping seat post, and one folding stem for the handlebar.
A large percentage of Bromptons are made fully of steel, but the P Line (Performance Line) tries to make the bike just a bit lighter by building rear triangle and fork out titanium to complement the steel frame. Those titanium bits are covered by black paint, which stands out in contrast to the sparkly dark bronze paint of the steel frame.
All told, the P Line is said to be roughly a kilogram lighter than the A Line and the C Line bikes. Only the Brompton T Line is lighter, with a full titanium frame paired with a carbon fork.
Outside of the titanium fork and rear end, the main difference between this latest iteration of the P Line Explore and other models is its 12-speed drivetrain. The 12-speed drivetrain consists of a Brompton-designed four-speed derailleur and a three-speed internally geared hub. The derailleur is controlled by a shifter on the left side of the handlebar, and the hub is controlled by a shifter on the right side.
Brompton says the derailleur weighs just 60 grams, far lighter than any other derailleur. Moreover, the Brompton four-speed derailleur is compact enough to ensure the bike folds smaller than it has any business doing.
The derailleur system is paired with a Sturmey Archer three-speed hub offering a claimed 300 percent gear range. Shifting the internally geared hub works the same as the derailleur side, with a thumb shifter that is flicked left and right to go into higher and lower gears.
You’re buying a Brompton for its folding ability, and from this perspective, the bike doesn’t disappoint. Every folding point has a robust hinge tied together either with a twisting clamp or a clip-style lever. Should something break, Brompton has replacement parts ready to order.
I must note that Brompton P Line is filled to the brim with laser-etched mini Bromptons. Want to see how the bike folds? Look at the inner side of the brake lever blades. Unsure if the rear hub is made for a Brompton? No problem, there’s an unmistakable outline of a Brompton etched into it!
What’s it like traveling with the P Line?
In a word, traveling with the Brompton P Line Explore is easy. It handles commutes that consist of more than riding a bike to and from your destination (think taking the bus a majority of the day and riding a bike for the last mile) better than just about anything else out there. And even if you’re not taking the bus or a train, commuting by riding the P Line Explore is easy as well.
Folding the Brompton P Line Explore is as easy as you’ll find in a folding bike. The system is as easy to use for all strengths and abilities as any folding system I’ve found, though Brompton’s tutorials may be needed for your first time folding and unfolding the bike.
The best part of traveling with the Brompton P line might be the bike’s three additional wheels. There are the two obvious 16-inch wheels that are used while riding, but when the bike is folded, there are three more that get used: two behind the seat tube and one atop the rear fender.
When the bike is folded, the P line can be rolled around as if it were a bit of luggage in an airport thanks to three additional wheels around the rear fender area. Stopping at a grocery store without a bike lock becomes much less nerve-wracking. Further, carrying the bike around, in general, is considerably less cumbersome than a full-sized bike in a bike bag.
The folding mechanism allows riders to easily take the bike on and off a bus or train without needing to declare it as a bicycle. It folds small enough to count as checked luggage on a flight rather than as a dedicated bicycle. Even better, the bike folds small enough to tuck away in the overhead compartments of most larger planes, though there is no guarantee an airline will let you do so.
The P Line Explore vs the competition
There are folding bikes from any number of brands besides Brompton. Bike Friday can credibly challenge Brompton for having a small-wheeled bike ride like a big-wheeled option. Tern’s options are genuinely innovative, particularly if you want electric assist. Dahon typically offers practical folding bikes without the cost often associated with them.
That said, I would argue that the best competition for the Brompton P Line is within the UK-based company itself. The P Line is an expensive folding bike, only usurped by the full-titanium T Line. The C Line bike, however, saves a chunk of change by swapping for full-steel frame and fork construction.
The C Line folds down to the same compact size, offers similar ergonomics, and importantly, is just as robust in transit. You lose out on the 12-speed range and the roughly 4.85 pounds (2.2 kg) of weight loss that comes with the P Line Explore. If those changes aren’t worth the roughly $1000 upcharge, I suspect you’ll be more than happy aboard a C Line Explore.
Riding the Brompton P Line Explore
The promise of riding a Brompton is that it is a small-wheeled folding bike that rides like a standard commuter option. While I didn’t entirely find that to be the case, the Brompton P Line Explore does remarkably well at being a bike.
The small 16-inch wheels quickly get up to speed, much faster than even the nicest road bikes. Turn into a corner and you’re greeted with steering that first feels light and twitchy, particularly for my 5 foot 6 inch (168 cm) height. Standing out of the saddle even is a novel experience, as the bars (narrow in comparison to most commuter bikes) don’t offer quite as much leverage while you’re standing out of the saddle.
Take some time to get used to how the bike turns and the bike starts to come into its own. Weaving around benches, up and down street curbs, and through narrow gated bike lanes is remarkably easy. Making a U-turn is as easy as it gets on this bike, with responsive, easy-to-reach brake levers to control your speed with pedestrians around.
The small wheels and dimensions betray the bike’s ability, however, as the Brompton P Line Explore feels much more confident at speeds of 20 and 30 miles per hour (32 to 48 kph) than one would think. Steer with your hips, trust the bike will remain stable, and it rewards you by going faster than you’d expect.
The 12-speed drivetrain offers a genuinely good range, and considerably better than just what the four-speed derailleur has to offer. Steep climbs of 12 percent grades are doable without having a heart attack, which is entirely better than I expected for a bike with this form factor.
Touchpoints exceeded expectations. The foam grips are basic and will likely wear out quickly, but they’re grippy and comfortable. The saddle is on the narrower side (similar to the road bike), with a soft padded area under the nose to make the bike more comfortable to handle, but proved comfortable on stints under four hours. Even the pedals – one of which detaches tool-free – work well, with just enough grip to keep your feet in place on a commute.
Downsides? A few, most of which are limitations of the bike’s compact design. The small wheels mean the bike is inherently less stable when pedaling hard, and sprinting out of the saddle results in a side-to-side weave. It’s not dangerous in these situations, more a gentle reminder that you have no business trying to keep up with the fast group ride passing you by.
Using the combination derailleur and internally geared hub takes some time to get used to. An internally geared hub means you can shift gears at a stop sign without issue, but shifting while under a full pedaling load will result in premature wear internally. Shifting the derailleur works the opposite, allowing riders to shift while under load, but not while you’re at a stop.
Meshing the two shifting systems in my head took time to get used to. Even after several hours on the bike, I had to remind myself which side I could shift at what time, sometimes resulting in being in the wrong gear on a steep climb. That said, I consider it a worthy trade-off for gearing that is as wide as this is.
Conclusion
There’s something to riding Brompton, particularly if it’s your first time or it’s been a while since the last pedal. The small wheels are a unique experience, as is its surprisingly stable feel once you’re up to speed. Those feelings aren’t entirely unique, however; many folding bikes can offer similar performance and ensure you always have transportation with you.
Where the Brompton separates itself is with how easy the bike is to use. The folding mechanism is straightforward and durable. Its compact size when folded makes it easier to stow away than nearly any other folding bike I’ve seen. And should something break, Brompton has a history of making their bikes easy to repair, with loads of walkthroughs and videos from fans to share their experiences.
As for the Brompton P Line Explore with its new 12-speed gearing? It’s fantastic. I reckon there’s no substitute for all the utility this bike offers to commuters and travelers. If you need – or crave – this type of utility, there’s no better choice.
